Pre War Models

Here are a few more that I acquired in the last few years. These have some small fatigue areas, but not bad at all. I also agree that the pre-war models have a charm all their own....the colors used then, the level of detailing (the figures with these have tiny painted features), and the wonderful boxes with colored scenes. I also like the use of tinplate on the pre-war models.

These are truly stunning and the boxes are a tue work of art. Dave

Dave--Thanks....I had never paid much attention to pre-war Dinky's until a few years ago. It is a wonderful period of Dinky history, and many models were either changed or discontinued after the war. I think every serious Dinky collector should invest in at least a few of these; they are real treasures, and to find a very nice one is a thrill. Terry

Hi Terry, I think every serious Dinky collector will fully agree with you, but I think far fewer of them will be able to afford it. Nevertheless, I feel very privileged to be able to afford a not-too-expensive one every now and then. Still, I never see a Dinky as any kind of 'investment'. Kind regards, Jan

Jan-- Thanks for the comments. When I said invest, I did not mean to buy them for investment reasons, but used investment to mean spending the money necessary to acquire them. You are quite correct; any of the pre-war models in great condition are going to be expensive, so for most of us it means we can only get a few...that is certainly my situation! I have never bought any Dinky's as an investment, although my wife certainly thinks they are! I have bought them because I just love them and the long gone era they represent, when you and I were kids.

Hi Terry, I fully understand what you mean and I was convinced of your true dedication to our beloved hobby already. You do a marvellous job collecting these. For us the challenge and the task to study, write about them and and to save them to future generations. The more pre-war models displayed here the better! Kind regards, Jan

Hi Gents, Couldn't agree more! I avoided Pre War models for years because of the stories of them dropping to bits before your eyes etc, in the end I took the plunge and now have 20 plus including some that are very fragile, however I have had my first 28 Series Vans for nearly 20 years, and they have not deteriorated that I can see in that time. I like to think that the Pre War models are the real original Dinky Toys, the only ones made in Frank Hornby's lifetime, and aimed at the top end / quality 0 Gauge Trainset buyer, a market that was simply gone by 1945, and the models themselves were never quite the same again were they? Here's a couple more............ Chris Warr.

Chris--I agree...although I dearly love the Dinkys of post war, up until about 1960, the pre-war models just have something that was mostly lost after the war. To me part of it is the quaint liveries that were in use earlier...the logos and names evoke a past time when lives and the world were different. And the models themselves, while pretty accurate, also have a certain quaintness to them that is just charming.Those latest pictures you sent are wonderful....I love the railroad liveries that were on those Mechanical Horses at that time...thanks for posting and sharing! Terry

Can anybody confirm whether the UK 25b Covered truck was ever issued in a military green prior to 1939, and sold as such. I always believed that the type 4 base were issued as military for a South African order between 1948--50. I have never seen an earlier type 2or 3 chassis as a military offering.Yet there is a Canadian collector who claims to have an example. Although the picture he shows, both the tin tilt and wheel hubs appear to show a different colour to the body.

Replying to my own question, I have looked at the achive's and discovered that there was an item issued in mil green gloss, but that it is most certainly not a military issue, so this chap in Canada has not got an ultra rare model as he claims. His claim regarding the South African issue is wrong also, they did not have silver headlights.

As far as I know the 25b was only issued as a civilian model pre war. There is some confusion here as the gloss dark green used on some of these has faded over the years to almost an Army matt finish. Again as far as I know the SA military issue was a special, and these were only exported after the war. I could as ever be surprised at what is out there though......... Chris Warr.

This one was bought in the De Bijenkorf department store in Amsterdam in 1939. It is badly fatigued and the front wheel unit has been replaced, but the rest is all original ... Kind regards, Jan